Dipper

On my way up to the owl field yesterday, I stopped by the River Frome near Stroud, for a coffee break, to see if I could find any Dippers.  The light was really poor but I did spot one, so I thought it would be worth a return trip although the light today was no better than yesterday. 

Dippers are specialist water birds and like swift flowing steams, feeding underwater.  The white patch on their throat and their habit of bobbing up and down while perched by a stream or on rocks in it, mean that they are relatively easy to spot.  They are a highly mobile bird and not terribly confiding (i.e. they're easily spooked), but they are territorial so if you are prepared to keep still in cover they will often come back to the spot where you first found them.

They are quite a challenge to photograph, as the white bib is easily overexposed, even in today's overcast conditions.   

January turns out to have been a brilliant month for birds, with 22 different species blipped.  My favourites have to be the Short Eared Owls and Waxwings though.  We'll see what February brings, but I'm definitely hoping for more Owling opportunities.